Pallet valve construction

ABSTRACT

A pallet valve for use in a pipe organ windchest for controlling the flow of air under pressure through an oblong opening in the windchest. The pallet valve comprises an elongated, generally flat, metallic body considerably longer than the opening and pivotally movable at one end about an axis substantially removed from the opening. A pair of laterally spaced, parallel flanges, coextensive with the valve body, depend from one face of the body and serve to reinforce and stiffen it. The other face of the body is provided with a cushion engageable with the area surrounding the opening for sealing the same.

United States Patent [191 Schlicker Mar. 27, 1973 PALLET VALVE CONSTRUCTION 21 Appl. No.: 93,791

181,288 6/1922 GreatBritain 84/338 20,2l8 2/1905 Sweden ..84/332 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Audsley, o. A. The Art of Organ Building, N.Y., Dodd, Mead & 00., 1905, pp. 219-221.

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-John F. Gonzales Attomey-Ashlan F. Harlan, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A pallet valve for use in a pipe organ windchest for controlling the flow of air under pressure through an oblong opening in the windchest. The pallet valve comprises an elongated, generally flat, metallic body considerably longer than the opening and pivotally movable at one end about an axis substantially removed from the opening. A pair of laterally spaced, parallel flanges, coextensive with the valve body, depend from one face of the body and serve to reinforce and stiffen it. The other face of the body is provided with a cushion engageable with the area surrounding the opening for sealing the same.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PALLET VALVE coNsTRUcTroN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a valve assembly and, more particularly, to a valve assembly for controlling the ad-' mission of wind or air to organ pipes.

In a great many conventional organs, the admission of wind to the organ pipes from the windchest is controlled by pivoted valves, commonly referred to in the organ building art as pallet valves. These pallet valves admit air to rectangular wind channels which are in communication with the lower ends of a row or bank of organ pipes. Slides interposed between the lower ends of the organ pipes and the pallet valves, are also operative selectively to control the flow of wind to various stops, i.e., groups, of the organ pipes in accordance with a predetermined plan.

As previously constructed, the body of a pallet valve is formed of wood and is only slightlylonger than the oblong openings which they are designed to close. While these known pallet valves have been used for many, many years, it has been found that they possess certain disadvantages. Because they are formed of wood, they are susceptible to warping caused by moisture and repeated usage. Also, in order to supply a full flow of air to the wind channels substantially instantaneously when the pallet valves are opened, the free ends of the valves, each of which is pivoted at one end,

must be displaced or swung through a relatively large are. This is particularly undesirable in those organs which are completely mechanically actuated since the human-effort required to depress a key which is mechanically connected to the pallet valve, is cor-' respondingly increased and the response of the organ is slowed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The pallet valve of the present invention, as hereinafter described, obviates the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a new and improved pallet valve formed of metal in a novel design which is strong and rigid in construction, and is rugged and durable in use, relatively low in cost, and easy to manufacture.

Generally speaking, the pallet valve of this invention is characterized by the provision of an elongated, generally flat metal body having a pair of laterally spaced flanges depending from the lower side thereof and extending lengthwise of the body. The valve body has a length considerably longer than the oblong opening from the windchest with which it is associated and is pivotable about an axis adjacent one end and disposed a substantial distance away from said opening for increased ease of actuation and to permit immediately exposing the entire opening for the introduction of air into the wind channel associated therewith when the valve is opened. The flat body is provided adjacent the opposite ends thereof with a fibrous bushing and a fibrous, slotted pad, respectively, for receiving guide pins to guide the valve in its movement. A cushion is provided on the upper side of the flat pallet valve body for sealing the opening and minimizing the sound caused by the engagement of the valve to close the associated opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view showing a portion of an organ windchest incorporating a pallet valve constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 of FIG. 1,.and presents a bottom plan view of the pallet valve of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the novel pallet valve in greater detail; and a FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a fragmentary, sectional view of a windchest comprehensively designated 11 in which there are mounted a plurality of pallet valves, each being comprehensively designated 13, according to the present invention. The windchest 11 is ordinarily formed of wood and comprises a bottom 15, a rear wall 17, a right side wall 19, a relatively thick cover or top 21, and a front wall and a left side wall (both not shown), which provide a rectangularly shaped, box-like construction which is elongated from front to rear. The positional terms top, bottom", front, rear, upper, lower, rearwardly, forwardly, and the like, as used herein, all refer to FIG. 1 of the drawing for convenience of description and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention or to require specific positioning in use.

While only one pallet valve 13 is shown in FIG. 1, it will be understood that a plurality of such valves, arranged in a row, from front to back as shown in FIG. 1, are mounted in the interior 22 of windchest 1 1 and that each pallet valve controls the flow of wind or air into one of a plurality of relatively narrow channels 23 located in the cover 21 and extending for the full width of the windchest.

Each wind channel 23 communicates with a series of organ pipes 25 (for simplicity only two are shown in FIG. 1) through one of a series of transversely spaced passages 27 formed in the upper part of the cover 21. As shown in FIG. 1, communication between the interior 22 of the windchest and each of the channels 23 is provided by elongated, rectangular openings 29 in the bottom of the cover 21 adjacent the right side of the windchest, the openings being closed in each instance by a pallet valve 13.

Each pallet valve 13 comprises an elongated, flat body 33, having substantially parallel longitudinal edges. A pair of parallel, laterally spaced flanges 35 extending longitudinally of said body project from the lower face thereof. These flanges serve to reinforce the body portion to prevent warping and distortion, whereby the latter may properly close in use. The body 33 and flanges 35, which arepreferably integral with the body, may be formed of a strong, rigid, lightweight metal such as aluminum or magnesium, or alloys of these metals. The body 33 of the valve 13 is slightly wider than the oblong opening 29 with which it is associated and is provided on its upper surface, under and around said opening, with a cushion which comprises a relatively thick, soft layer 37 of sponge rubber or similar resilient elastomeric material having on its upper surface a thin layer 39 of a smooth, flexible, material, such as leather, which is relatively soft but firmer than the layer 37. The two portions of the cushion may be joined together and the cushion may be attached to the body 33 by suitable adhesives. Preferably the cushion extends substantially to the side edges of the body 33 but is of substantially less length, since it need extend only slightly beyond the ends of the opening 29. In general the cushion will not extend more than for about two-thirds the length of body 33.

The pallet valve 13 is provided at its right end with a longitudinal slot 41 through the body 33, between the flanges 35 thereof, and through the cushion thereon. Adjacent its other end the valve 13 is provided with an aperture 43 that extends through the body 33 between the flanges 35. Pins 45 and 47 are carried in the bottom portion of the cover 21 and provide guide means for mounting the valve 13 under the opening 29, the pin 45 extending downwardly through the slot 41 and the pin 47 extending downwardly through the aperture 43 so that the valve may be guided in movement with respect to the opening. The valves 13 are normally maintained in closed position against the cover 21 closing the corresponding openings 29, by springs 51 each of which is provided with legs 53 and 55.

Eachspring 51 is carried by a spring support block 57 that is secured to the upper face of the bottom 15 of the windchest by suitable 'means (not shown), blocks 57 being arranged at suitably spaced intervals for the several valves in the windchest along the backing strip 59 that extends longitudinally of the windchest. The

outer ends of the legs 53 and of the spring 51 are bent outwardly so as to extend upwardly and downwardly, respectively. The bent end of the leg 55 engages in a dimple or hole provided in the top of the spring support block 57 and the upwardly turned end of the upper leg 53 engages in a dimple or hole 63 in an insert 65 held between the flanges 35 of the valve 13, intermediate its ends, by suitable means such as a rivet 67. The insert 65 may be formed of dense felt although other materials may be used. Preferably the dimple 63 is located at approximately the middle of the opening 29. I

At the left ends of the pallet valves 13 additional means is provided for holding the valves in position. Such means comprises an elongated sliding bar 71, preferably of suitable metal, extending for substantially the length of the windchest 1 1 and carried by a plurality of brackets 73 projecting downwardly from and suitably secured to the bottom of the cover 21. Each of the brackets 73 is provided with a horizontal slot 75 facing the right wall 19 of the windchest and the bar 71 is carried in the slots 75 on the lower arms 76 of the several brackets for sliding movement transversely of the windchest. Springs 77, suitably secured to the brackets 73, as by screws 79, urge the sliding bar to the right, as shown in FIG. 1, so that it projects under the left end of the pallet valve 13, thereby preventing the valve from dropping should the spring 51 be removed or fail. The sliding bar 71 is retained in place by contact in its projected position with the pins 47 of the several valve mountings.

The sliding bar 71 also'provides support for the pallet valve 13 when the latter is moved downwardly to open communication between the interior of the windchest 11 and the wind channel 23. As previously described, the valve 13 is guided at its left end by the pin 47 which extends through the aperture 43 in the valve. To provide a firm but free action as the valve opens, a bushing is provided in the aperture 43 and a pad 87 is provided between the upper face of the valve and the lower face of the cover 21 around the pin 47. The bush-I ing and pad may be of any suitable resilient inaterial such as felt to provide a noise-free, frictional sliding fit between the pin 47 and the valve 13. Ifdesired, the pad 87 may be adhesively secured to the upper faceof the valve or to the lower face of the cover 21. The resiliency of the bushing 85 and pad 87 permit some play between the guide pin 47 and the valve to enable the latter to pivot in opening and closing.

At the other, right hand, end of the valve 13 means is provided for actuating it. Such means comprises an insert 91 secured between the flanges 35 of the valve by suitable means such as a rivet 93 and having a slot 95 therein registering with the slot 41 but being somewhat narrower whereby to make frictional contact with the guide pin 45. The insert, which may be formed of felt, plastic or other suitable material, is also provided with a depending tab 97 having an aperture 99 therein for engagement of a pulldown wire 101. The latter extends through a hole provided with a bushing 103 of suitable material formed in the bottom 15 of the windchest and is operatively connected through suitable mechanism (not shown) to the corresponding key located on the organ console (not shown). 7

In operating the organ, air under pressure is supplied to the interior 22 of the windchest 11 from a suitable source of supply (not shown). Each pallet valve 13 is normally urged upwardly to close its associated opening 29 by means of a spring 51, the cushion on the valve serving to firmly seal said opening. When it is desired to introduce air into a particular organ pipe 25 to generate a specific sound, the corresponding key on the organ console is depressed to effect, through mechanical, rod and lever linkage or any other suitable means, a pulling force applied downwardly to the pull-down wire 101 of the pallet valve involved. This, in turn, exerts a pull on the right end of the pallet valve 13 to move the same downwardly away from the opening 29 against the bias of spring 51 and allow air to pass from the windchest 11 through opening 29 into the channel 23 and ultimately to one or more pipes 25. Which pipeor pipes receive air from channel 23 depends upon the position of the several'slides 111. The latter, shown in cross-section in FIG. 1 and known in the art, are elongated flat members movable longitudinally of the windchest 11 in channels 113. The slides have holes therein which, if brought into registry with the asguide pin 47 and the valve 13 permitted by the bushing 85 enables the valve to move slightly relative to the guide pin 47 during the pivoting motion. When the force applied to the pull-down wire 101 is released, the spring 51 is effective again to bias the pallet valve upwardly to close its opening 29 and stop flow of air to the pipe or pipes connected to the affected wind channel.

. It will be understood that pallet valves according to the present invention may vary in size in accordance with the sizes of the openings into the wind channels from the windchest which the valves are to close. However, an important inventive feature is that the lengths of the valve bodies are at least 1.5 times the lengths of the openings which they are designed to close. Since the valve in operating pivots about an axis adjacent supported end and remote from the nearer end of the opening a distance equivalent to approximately onethird of the length of said valve, only a slight movement of the free end of the valve exposesthe entire opening 29, thereby allowing instantaneous flow of enough air into the wind channel 23 to produce full sound from the pipes'receiving air therefrom. Also, the touch, or required pressure on the key in order to elicit the full power of the organ, is significantly reduced and exertion by the organist is minimized. This latter feature is especially important in those organ constructions in which the connections and force transmitting means between the pull-down wire and the organ keys are entirely mechanical. It will be understood, however, that the fast opening of a pallet valve according to the present invention and the improvement of the touch of the organ combine to make it evident to the organist when the valve has opened since the more rapid reduction in pressure may be sensed by the fingers'on the organ keys.

As earlier mentioned, although only one pallet valve 12 is illustrated and described in detail, a plurality of such valves are incorporated in each of a plurality of windchests in a typical organ. The size of these pallet valves will vary in accordance with the sizes of their associated openings 29, the size of an opening being dependent on the sizes of the associated organ pipes 25 and the volume of air required to produce the desired sound. While these pallet valves 13 may vary in size, their dimensions relative to the associated openings 29 should remain proportionately similar to the valve and opening illustrated in the drawing.

The novel pallet valves of this invention, as previously explained, provide an improved touch for an organ with less effort being required in mechanically actuated valves and provide full flow of wind or air instantaneously because of the greater length thereof as compared to the openings closed by them. A further advantage lies in the fact that the improved valves are less noisy than prior valves since there is less motion involved in closing. Moreover, the diminished movement required of the valves permits redesign of the mechanical linkage, such as levers, cranks, and the like, between the keys and the valves to further improve the touch and action without excessive key movement even when the distance between key and valve is relatively great.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it should be understood that numerous modifications thereof may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

. I claim:

' 1. In an organ having a windchest, a wind channel, and an elongated, rectangular opening providing communication 'therebetween; a pallet valve associated with said opening, said valve comprising an elongated, substantially flat body substantially longer than said opening and being mounted in said windchest for opening and closing said opening by pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent one endof said valve and spaced a distance from the endof said opening nearest said axis equivalent to approximately one-third of the length of said valve.

2. An organ construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said valve is provided on one face thereof with means for sealing said opening.

3. An organ construction as set forth in claim 2 in which said valve is provided on the other face thereof with reinforcing flanges.

4. An organ construction as set forth in claim 3 in which said valve is formed of metal.

5. An organ construction as set forth'in claim 4 in which said valve is provided at the other end thereof with operating means. 

1. In an organ having a windchest, a wind channel, and an elongated, rectangular opening providing communication therebetween; a pallet valve associated with said opening, said valve comprising an elongated, substantially flat body substantially longer than said opening and being mounted in said windchest for opening and closing said opening by pivotal movement about a horizontal axis adjacent one end of said valve and spaced a distance from the end of said opening nearest said axis equivalent to approximately one-third of the length of said valve.
 2. An organ construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said valve is provided on one face thereof with means for sealing said opening.
 3. An organ construction as set forth in claim 2 in which said valve is provided on the other face thereof with reinforcing flanges.
 4. An organ construction as set forth in claim 3 in which said valve is formed of metal.
 5. An organ construction as set forth in claim 4 in which said valve is provided at the other end thereof with operating means. 